Caller Cites Gun At School

ISLE OF WIGHT — Smithfield High School was on lockdown for nearly five hours Tuesday after a call about a gun in the school.

Sheriff C.W. "Charlie" Phelps called off the lockdown about 1:30 p.m. when he determined the call was phony.

"We received information very quickly about who made the call, and the individual was interviewed immediately," said Phelps, who added that charges will be pursued. The name of the caller, who was not a student, was not released.

The high school received a call at about 8:45 a.m. The caller said a student at Smithfield High School took a gun from the caller's house to school. Deputies were sent to the school, and it was put on lockdown. The division used a new Internet-based alert system to keep parents informed, school division spokeswoman Katherine Goff said.

The first alert went out about 10 a.m. An update was sent around 11:40 a.m., saying the lockdown was still in place.The third alert was sent out after the lockdown ended around 1:30 p.m., Goff said.

"We've heard great feedback from the parents that they feel very connected to students during the day," Goff said.

Also Tuesday, a bus driver reported seeing what appeared to be two school-age youths in hunting vests with rifles in their hands. Deputies didn't find anyone matching the description, Phelps said, noting the possibility that they were hunters.

And at Westside Elementary School, a student brought two BB guns to school. School staff was alerted, and the weapons were recovered, Phelps said. Charges will also be pursued in that incident.

Phelps said these types of incidents show the benefit of having deputies in schools. The school division has six school resource officers for nine schools.

"Next year, we hope to have the other three so then I can cover all schools," he said.